What are some of the common factors associated with an increased risk of an individual developing borderline personality disorder?
Mental health conditions such as personality disorders may have a wide variety of underling causes and often the factors which maintain the illness differ from those which initially triggered the condition. Borderline personality disorder, commonly referred to as BPD, is believed to generally involve several different risk factors including:
- Trauma
- Genetics and biology
- Upbringing
- Culture
Trauma and Borderline Personality Disorder
Many sufferers of mental health problems including those affected by borderline personality disorder may have experienced some form of trauma. However, it is important to recognise that this factor does not apply to all sufferers of BPD.
A history of different forms of abuse such as neglect or emotional abuse is believed to be common in addition to experiencing loss. As with each risk factor explored it is a combination of such factors that is likely to increase the likelihood of an individual suffering from BPD.
Genetics, Biology and Borderline Personality Disorder
Again, as with trauma and abuse, both genetics and biology are identified as having a significant role to play in many forms of mental illness in addition to BPD. Mental health researchers have recognised that the condition is often something that may affect members of the same family.
In terms of biological factors, research studies have shown that there is a difference between the manner in which the brain of non-sufferers and BPD sufferers works, particularly in relation to the communication of neurons within the brain.
Upbringing and Borderline Personality Disorder
This is often recognised as an extremely significant factor in the development of common mental health conditions such as
depression in addition to BPD.
Parents of BPD sufferers may for whatever reason (perhaps as a result of their own unhealthy relationships with parents) have been unable to provide a nurturing, supportive home environment necessary for the child to feel safe, secure and loved.
BPD sufferers also frequently report feeling as if their feelings were either ignored, insignificant or not important enough as they were growing up which hinders development of both self-confidence and
self-esteem.
Culture and Borderline Personality Disorder
The most significant reason as to why
BPD is far more prevalent in Western society may possibly be down to the culture in which the nuclear family and values associated with being part of a wider community are no longer seen as important. Placing too much emphasis on the importance of always meeting individual needs first is also a factor.
In today's society where approximately half of all marriages end in divorce it is not surprising that children grow up feeling unsure about their place in the world. Core family values become eroded and a sense of belonging and having a safe, support system is sadly lost.
As highlighted above,
BPD involves several main risk factors including biology, genetics, trauma, culture and upbringing. It is a combination of these factors as opposed to one single factor that is likely to result in increased risk.
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